S&P 500 in 2011

The S&P 500 fell 0.0% in 2011, from 1,257.64 at the end of 2010 to 1,257.60. Its highest close was 1,363.61 on Apr 29, and its lowest 1,099.23 on Oct 3. The biggest one-day fall was −6.7% on Aug 8 and the biggest rise +4.7% on Aug 9. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 2.9%.

Change in 2011

0.0%

1,257.64 → 1,257.60

High

1,363.61

Apr 29

Low

1,099.23

Oct 3

After inflation

−2.9%

US CPI

Up days

138 of 252

longest run 5 up, 7 down

Below record

-19.6%

at the end of 2011

S&P 500, daily closes 2011

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2011

What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Friday, March 11

Tohoku earthquake and tsunami strike northeastern Japan. Source

S&P 500: +0.7% that day · +2.6% a month later
2
Friday, August 5

Standard & Poor's downgrades the US long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+. Source

S&P 500: −0.1% that day · −2.2% a month later
3
Monday, August 8

On the first trading day after the S&P downgrade, the major US stock indexes fall 5% to 7%. Source

S&P 500: −6.7% that day · −2.8% a month later
4
Tuesday, August 9 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.7%.
5
Monday, October 31

Futures broker MF Global files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

S&P 500: −2.5% that day · −7.0% a month later

Biggest days of 2011

Best days		Worst days
Aug 9	+4.7%	Aug 8	−6.7%
Aug 11	+4.6%	Aug 4	−4.8%
Nov 30	+4.3%	Aug 18	−4.5%
Oct 27	+3.4%	Aug 10	−4.4%
Aug 23	+3.4%	Nov 9	−3.7%

Volatility: 23.3% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	1,286.12	+2.3%	1,299.54	1,269.75
Feb	1,327.22	+3.2%	1,343.01	1,304.03
Mar	1,325.83	−0.1%	1,330.97	1,256.88
Apr	1,363.61	+2.8%	1,363.61	1,305.14
May	1,345.20	−1.4%	1,361.22	1,316.28
Jun	1,320.64	−1.8%	1,320.64	1,265.42
Jul	1,292.28	−2.1%	1,353.22	1,292.28
Aug	1,218.89	−5.7%	1,286.94	1,119.46
Sep	1,131.42	−7.2%	1,216.01	1,129.56
Oct	1,253.30	+10.8%	1,285.09	1,099.23
Nov	1,246.96	−0.5%	1,275.92	1,158.67
Dec	1,257.60	+0.9%	1,265.43	1,205.35

Other Markets in 2011

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	0.0%	1,257.60
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2011	+5.5%	12,217.56
Nasdaq Composite in 2011	−1.8%	2,605.15
Russell 2000 in 2011	−5.5%	740.92
Nikkei 225 in 2011	−17.3%	8,455.35
Gold in 2011	+8.9%	$1,531.00
Silver in 2011	−8.0%	$28.18
WTI crude oil in 2011	+8.2%	$98.83
Brent crude oil in 2011	+15.9%	$108.09
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2011	−1.41 pp	1.89%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

S&P 500 in 2011: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 2011?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2011?

Highest: 1,363.61 on April 29, 2011. Lowest: 1,099.23 on October 3, 2011. It closed higher on 138 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on August 8, 2011?

On the first trading day after the S&P downgrade, the major US stock indexes fall 5% to 7%. The S&P 500 fell 6.7% that day, and was −2.8% a month later.

Data: Daily closes since 1950 (price index, excluding dividends). Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.